To create graduates who are concerned about others, leadership opportunities and a range of exposures are introduced. Pairing older and younger students in buddy classes, assisting teachers through the Future Teachers Club, all provide opportunities for students to lead and start "making a difference" in our school community.
With small class sizes, St. Michael School can be flexible to meet the changing needs of students with various additional opportunities or resources. Fortunate to be located in communities where enrichment for children is a priority, students are encouraged to participate in programs such at their local civic centers and libraries.
Student Council
Saint Michael School has a Junior and a Senior Student Council. Student Council is an organized group of students sharing in the life of the school. Community service projects that Student Council has performed include making more than 170 Santa placemats and holiday door hangers for the residents of the Harborside Nursing Home in Broadview Heights. Student council coordinated several raffles to pay for the supplies for this project. A favorite fundraiser for the winter months has been the hot chocolate sale during lunchtime. Student council also plan a Veterans Day Tribute Mass and coffee social in November.
Smiles Program
The Smiles program has been a long-standing tradition for first graders at St. Michael's School. It is a one-on-one reading program that partners a student with a volunteer senior citizen. Each Thursday, one first grade class meets with their Smiles reading partner. The volunteer readers begin the year by reading to the students and by the end of the school year, the students are reading to the volunteers. This program was designed to improve reading skills in a relaxed and fun environment. Our first graders look forward to this program every week. In addition, Smiles will form friendships that we hope will last a lifetime.
Bowling Club
The Bowling Club is open to students in grades 5 through 8. Approximately 50 students participate in the league each quarter. Bowlers with the top three averages receive trophies as do the members of the team with the highest overall team average. Science Club Students in grades 4 through 6 are welcome to join the Science Club. The club meets monthly and they investigate various topics such as "science in the kitchen" where they investigate different foods and ingredients.
Ski Club
The St. Michael Ski Club is for students ages 9 and up. The club meets every Sunday night starting in January at the Boston Mills Ski Resort and students receive lessons appropriate to their skill level. Those who progress through all five of the classes can ski/board on all the slopes' various levels of difficulty.
Future Teachers Club
This club allows students in grades 5-8 to pair with a teacher. Students assist with a variety of teacher-related tasks such as creating bulletin boards, displaying student work, organizing materials, and facilitating small group activities - all to encourage a profession in teaching.
Liturgical Music Club
The liturgical music group provides musical assistance for Mass and other school liturgies. It is open to any student regardless of musical training in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. Students sing, play bells, or play other instruments to lead or accompany singing during the liturgies. The group practices two mornings a week.
Power of the Pen
Power of the Pen is a statewide competition for creative writers. Each school enters one team of six students for seventh and eighth grades. Writers compete at the district, regional and state levels. Girls Scouts Girl Scouts provide opportunities to build character and skills for success in the real world. In partnership with adult volunteers, girls develop qualities that will serve them all their lives, like leadership, strong values, social conscience and conviction about their own potential and self worth. Girls learn the importance of personal responsibility, the value of goal setting, the spirit of teamwork, and the thrill of accomplishment. Cub Scouts Boys in grades 1 - 5 work on character and spiritual development through a new world of adventure. The program provides boys with a way to learn new skills, try new things, and enjoy lots of outdoor activities.
Kiwanis K-Kids Club
St. Michael School has partnered with the Independence Kiwanis Club to form a K-Kids Club for students in first through fourth grade dedicated to providing community service to the surrounding areas. It is a wonderful opportunity to teach students, at a young age, the qualities of being a leader as well as the importance of giving back to their community. The club meets twice a month and has performed many projects. They have made ornaments for American soldiers, collected coats for Coats for Kids, made Thanksgiving placemats for a local nursing home, collected more than 1,000 books during a book drive, and honored local librarians during National Library Week.
Kiwanis Builders Club
Builders Club is the largest service organization for middle school students in the world. St. Michael students that are in fifth to eighth grade are welcome to be a member of this student-led community-service organization. Students learn teamwork, organization, and leadership. Students learn that working together can and will make a difference to the world around them. The club is in partnership with the Independence Kiwanis Club.
Edible Art Club Students in grades 5-8 are taught cake decorating by the school's art teacher. It has become one of the most popular new clubs the school offers.
The Arts
Creativity is top priority for St. Michael School's Art teacher, Mrs. Kelly Hanlon, a recent graduate of Case Western Reserve University with a Master's Degree in Art. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Education from the University of Toledo where she was named to the President's List, the Dean's List and Student of the Year in Art Education. Mrs. Hanlon enjoys a variety of creative hobbies including cake decorating and scrap booking. She is also a sports fan and roots for the Cleveland Indians, Browns and Cavaliers and has attended many NASCAR races. In her spare time, she likes to watch Dancing with the Stars and CSI New York. Mrs. Hanlon has begun a very popular new course at the school... Edible Art!
Drama Club Drama Club is open to students in grades 6 through 8. The club promotes interest in theatre and cultural arts with the presentation of one musical drama each February. The school hires professional directors, musicians, lights and sound people. We partner with Independence Schools to perform in their auditorium.
Music
Students can participate in three different bands: Beginning band, Advanced Band and Jazz Band. We offer lessons in instruments as an extra-curricular opportunity. Our music curriculum begins at the kindergarten level. Students participate in a liturgy and bell choir and also take musical field trips to Severance Hall and the Cleveland Orchestra. Instrumental music, starting in the fourth grade, has long been an important part of St. Michael School. There are three performing bands. The talented musicians participate in local solo and ensemble competitions.
Athletics
St. Michael School has an outstanding CYO program, led by the Athletic Association. St. Michael's teams do well in developing young talent and fair play skills, as well as winning competitions. St. Michael's offers athletic teams in Basketball, Volleyball, Softball, Baseball, Football and Cheerleading. Additionally, St. Basil the Great Athletic Association offers a Track & Field program, which is open to St. Michael students. Students in grades four through eight may participate in the CYO sports program.
Click here for St. Michael School Athletic Association
Student Learning 
